EURO 2012/ ITALY, Pirlo: "We’re feeling positive"

Andrea Pirlo believes Italy will go into todays’s Croatia clash full of confidence after launching their Euro 2012 campaign with a morale boosting draw against Spain.

The 33-year-old was one of the six Bianconeri representing the Azzurri on Sunday in Gdansk - and provided a sumptuous pass for Di Natale’s opener shortly after the hour mark.

“We’re feeling very positive, especially in the light of our first game against Spain,” Pirlo told reporters. “There’s a lot of conviction and the team is aware of its own strengths – these components will enable us to go forward. We’ve got excellent strikers with different characteristics and De Rossi is an added resource, capable of starting our moves from the back. He’s an added value for us.”

Asked if he was the best player from the draw with the defending champions, Pirlo responded: “I don’t know. I’ve always looked to play in my own way. Sometimes it goes well, others less so.”

After a false start who had Juventus lose friendly matches against Borussia Dortmund and Olympique Marseille, while newbie Sami Khedira got already injured, Bianconeri management are determined to get back on the transfer market and sign a new top player for their roster. On